Brick-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. D. THOMAS.

BRICK MACHINE.

' Patented Dec. 27

.(No Model.) 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2.

A. D. THOMAS. BRICK MACHINE.

No. 375,660; Patented Dec. 27,1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT D. THOMAs, OF KEOKUK, IOWA.

BRICK-MACHINE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,660, datedDecember 27, 1887.

(No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. THOMAS, of Keokuk, in the county of Leeand State of Iowa, a citizen of the United States, haveinvented a newand useful Improvement in Brick-Machines, which is made and usedsubstantially as set forth hereinafter, and as shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of the machine. Fig.2 is a front view of same. Fig. 3 is a section of part of same, lookingfrom front. Fig. 4c is a detail of part H".

This invention relates to machines for makin brick from pulverized clayby great pressure in molds; and the invention consists in various newand improved features made substantially as shown and set forth.

The machine resembles that of my patent -of April 14, 1885, No. 315,855,to which I refer for additional particulars, referring to correspondingparts by corresponding letters of reference.

The brick are mad-ein molds in mold-block B, in which upper and loweropposed plungers, E F, compress the clay between them. These plungersare held by plunger-heads E F, which move up and down in guideways E Fon side frames, A A by pitmau-like link-bars E F, held by pivot-pins EF. The lower plungers, F, are moved by link-bars F from pivot-pin F, andthe upper plungers, E, by link-bars E from pivot-pin H", connected withpivot pin F by link-bars E", forming levers.

The pitmau H is carried by driver G through crank-pin G, on which thepitman has upward and downward adjustments, so as to give it a peculiarcombined series of actions, as a pitman and as a lever, to operate theopposed plungers, which are connected with it through pivot-pin H andprojection H on its end. The pitman H has in it a slotted guideway, H,by which it engages with and moves in its circuit as a pitman over apivot-pin, H, having a friction-roller thereon, on which it turns as alever to give peculiar motions to its free end in different parts of itsmovement to push downand draw up the opposed plungers.

The pivot-pin H is held at its ends by guides H, which are held by sideframes, A A on which they are adjustable. These opposing plungers on theolayin the molds, to

compress the clay with great force between them to compact it intobrick, to push the brick out of the molds and relieve them of pressure,and to open the molds again in the circuit of the crank G.

The link-bars E project as levers above pivot-pin F and bearguide-rollers E, which travel on vertical guideways is on the sideframes, A A", during a portion of the series of operations, and the endof pitmau-lever H projects up as a hooked bearing, H, to engage with thepivot-pin F during a portion of this period, so as to drawand hold therollers E back against their guideways. This hook and guideway arearranged so as to assist the peculiar motion of the pitman-lever and theseries of parts connected by pivot-pins E F H and F to produce theactions of the upper and lower opposed plungers which are desired in.the several parts of the process of making the brick.

The parts are connected and arranged so the movement of the crank G willcarry the pitman-lever H audits several conncctedparts into thepositions illustrated by full lines in the several figures at the pointof greatest pressure on the brick and into the positions illustrated bythe two series of differently-dotted lines in Fig. 1 at the point ofpushing the brick out of the molds and of opening the molds to receiveclay. In this circuit of motions the center of pivotpin H describesapproximately the course shown by finely-dotted lines 6, that of pin Fthat of lines 0, and that of pin Ff that of lines 6, first upward to itshighest position, then down to its lowest, then upward and forward in acurved line to its forward position, then back, and then upward again.In this series of movements certain portions of the course of the partsare controlled by guide-camways K on side frames, A A so as to hold thepivotone straight vertical line, so that the parts have their fulltensile and compressive strength and mechanical advantages for carryingthe compression to its highest point. From this position the pitman Hmoves the parts, being carried by the drivingcrank Gin its downwardcourse, so that it turns as a lever on pivot H,

having its short end and greatest power to lift them thereby to startthe brick upward in the molds. The pitman then moves forward as well asdownward in its course, and lifts the brick out of the molds partly byits lever action and partly by its pitman action, pushing lever Eupward, so as to lift the lower plungers by a nearly-vertical lift onthe link-bars F. To produce this result, the shape of slot way H causesthe end of the lever to rise as it begins to move forward, and theturning of lever E lets it move forward, while pivot F is moved verylittle forward, but upward. This action slowly releases the pressure ontop of the brick and lifts the top plunger from it by the motion of thepivot B, being forward and upward faster than pivot F, so that by thetime the brick is discharged the upper plunger is some distance aboveit. In this the pivot F is brought to its highest point, h", with aslightly forward sweep, while held back and true by hook H and heldforward by the upper ends of levers E", being held by guideways isbehind. The up motion of the top plungers is checked by a slide-loopover pin T, having the arrangement and bottom connection set forth in mypatent referred to. The brick having been lifted out of the molds andheld level with the table in front, and the plungers lifted to theirhighestposition by the forward motion of the pitman and crank G, theparts move slowly from the lever, action having ceased. A camway in thedisk of shaft G then rapidly moves lever P and fillerbox 0 with a chargeof clay from hopper G forward, so as to shove the brick into the tablein front and bring the clay over'the molds. The pitman then begins toact as alever again by the upward motion of crank G while it is intothem from the filler-box 0, held over them therefor.

The amount of clay to make the brick is controlled by a pivoted leverunder the bottom plungers on bed A, as shown in the ent referred to. Theposition of this lever is adjusted by a set screw in its free end. Theplunger-head descends onto this lever in whatever position it is set andopens the molds just so far. The clay from the filler-box falls in so asto fill the molds as far as they are open with a definite measuredquantity of clay,and the remainder is cut off and carried back by thefiller-box. The bulk of clay to make the desired solidity of brick hasto be varied to suit the kind and condition of the clay, as well as thedegree of hardness desired. WVhen the molds are filled, the lever Ppulls back the filler-box, and the fall of the plungers F strikestheadjustment-lever referred to, causing a shock to be communicated tothe upper plungers, as set forth in said patent, so as to start them ifdisposed to stick fast in the molds from any cause. This action bringsthe center of pivot F to its lowest point, h", and its shaft against ashoulder, k in the side frame, and resting in a downward recess,therein. The plungers remain stationary a moment, while the clay fallsand the filler-box is returned to its position under the hopper toreceive a new charge of clay, and while the lever H is turned to itsfarthest position by the rising crank G. This is provided for by therise of the pivot H in its slotway, as well as by the shape of the backpart of slotway H thereforin lever H. Vhen the pivot H has reached itshighest point and the crank G begins to move backward, the pitman H isdrawn back, while its forward end is held down by the pivot, so as toforce the upper plungers rapidly down to the clay in the molds and ontothe clay until it has been heavily compressed without moving the lowerplungers. The lower plungers are held stationary during this action bythe engagement of a bearing on the shaft of pivot F with a seat thereforin the side frames, A A which holds it until this shaft is turned bylever E, in which it is held solid, so that it will pass its holdingbearing. While held in this way the full force of the machine isconcentrated on the upper plungers to force them down. Vhen the upperplungers have reached their lowest point and the bearing on shaft F hasturned to the point of its holder and the pitman is carried to a point,e where its hook H engages with this shaft, so as to lift it over andfree from its holder, the pivots E H and F, holding the upper plungers,are brought into a straight line into the positions shown by the secondseries of dotted lines, 6 Fig. 1, and the pressure on the brick israised nearly to its highest point. Then the crank draws back the partswithout changing their relative positions, except that the link-bars E Fswing on their lower pivots, E F until it has reached its farthest backposition and has drawn the parts back so as to bring the pivots F H andthe parts E F, and E holding them into one straight line with the pivotsE F and the plnngers and plunger-heads E E F F, so as to produce thehighest pressure on the brick, at which it holds them nearly stationarywhile it moves down so far as to bring the pivot H again to its lowestpoint, giving time for the pressure on the brick to give the clay apermanent set and bringing the parts into the positions shown in fulllines in Fig. 1 again. the plungers is relatively free, but principallyconsists in lifting the lower,so as to compress the brick equally below.

Several of the parts not specially shown or described herein are made inthe manner set forth in my patent referred to, and several features ofoperation are more particularly set forth therein. Various modificationsmay be made.

I claim 1. The pitman H, borne by crank G, provided with and bearing aguideway, H combined with a fulcrum-bearing, H", therefor,on which it isadapted to change its point of leverage in relation to its end bearingswhile moving, and with two opposed plungers connected with the pitmanfor operation by its lever action.

2. The pitman-lever H, borne by crank G, bearing a slot-guideway, Hcombined with a fulcrum-pivot, H, therein, and with two opposed movingplungers connected with it by link-bars and pivots and adapted to beoperated by the pitmaniever action through them.

3. Two opposed plunger-s, combined and connected by link-bars with apitman, H, having a fulcrum upon which it is arranged to act as a leveras it moves and having a leverhook point, H, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

1. The pitman H. borne by crank G, combined with pivot H, forming afulcrum for the pitman as that moves along over it, causing the pitmanto act as a lever as it moves, and with an upper plunger, E, connectedwith it by link-bar and pivots adapted to push the plunger down as thepitman operates in one part of its course.

5. The pitman H, combined with two op posed plungers connected with itthrough one pivot-pin, H for operation by it, and with afulcrum-bearing, H, arranged to govern the motion of the pitman and theplungers.

6. The pitman H, having one end connected to and carried around by thecrank G and provided with one pivot-pin, H, at the other In this actionthe relative motion of end, and afulcrum-bearing, H, upon which it isadapted to act as carried by said crank, combined with two opposedplungers, E F. connected therewith by link-bars E E, and F through saidpivot-pin, and arranged to be operated from said crank, and the pitmanac tion therefrom modified by lever action on said fulcrum.

7. The pitman H, combined with lever 13* and guideway k, and withlink-bars F and a lower plunger connected through them and adapted to beoperated by the pitman.

8. The two opposed plungers E F, having guideway-seats, combined andconnected by link-bars and pivots with pitman H, carried by adriving-crank, G, and having a fulcrumbearing, H and a connecting-pin,H", the said pin being arranged to be located in one straight line withthe connecting-pivots in said plungers at the point of greatest pressureupon them, substantially as set forth.

9. The pitman H, borne by crank G and having a fulcrum to control itsmotion, combined with lever E, pivoted to it and to plunger-link F andplunger link E substantially as set forth.

10. The pitman H, combined with controlling-pivot H and operatingpivotH, bars F and E, guideway 70, and plunger F, adapted to be operated bythe pitman.

11. The combination of pitman H, borne by crank G, with a fulcrum, H*,on which it is adapted tomove and act as a lever, and with two opposedpressing-plungers, E F, connected with it for operation by link-bars andpivots.

12. The pitman-lever H, borne by crank G, having guide-slotway H,combined with pivot-pin H, and with upper and lower brickmold plungersand their connecting bars and joints, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

13. In a brick-n1achine, a pitman, H, having a crank-bearing at one end,a pivotpin, H", at the other, and a fulcrum-bearing way, H between them,with a curved guideline arranged to give special lever action to thepitman by moving upon a fulcrum, substantially as set forth. I

14-. In a brick-machine, the pitman H, having a crank-bearing at oneend, a pivot-pin, H",and alever-hook point,H, at the other end, and afulcrum-bearing between, arranged to give special lever action to thepitman as carried by the crank.

ALBERT D. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

DAVID G. ANDERSON, JOHN I. GRIFFITH.

ICC

